Peninsula High Wins Shores Title : Prep basketball: Panthers use early 12-0 run to put away Mira Costa, 68-48.

Any questions about how newly formed Peninsula High will fare this season were answered Saturday night in the championship game of the 40th annual Pacific Shores boys’ basketball tournament.

The Panthers defeated Mira Costa, 68-48, at Redondo High to claim the first tournament title in school history. Of course, Peninsula was formed only in September when Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills and Miraleste high schools became one campus.

Peninsula High Coach John Mihaljevich, who brought his Palos Verdes teams to 29 consecutive Pacific Shores tournaments, won his first tournament title.

“I guess moving to a brand-new school was all it took,” Mihaljevich said.

With the victory, Peninsula (4-0) also served notice to future opponents that it is ready to play.

“It’s interesting because in the CIF preseason polls, we didn’t even make the other column,” Mihaljevich said. “So winning a tournament like this is really special. I think it lets the kids know they can compete, and tells other teams they can expect a game.”

After trailing early, the Panthers (4-0) snapped off a 12-0 run and were never seriously threatened.

Peninsula shot 43% from the field, but put the game away at the free-throw line by making 17 of 24 second-half attempts.

Senior forward John Anthony led all scorers with 15 points and Julius Coleman came of the bench to score 12. Reserve center Art Shell grabbed seven rebounds.

Mira Costa (3-1) used pressure defense and accurate long-range shooting to reach the final. But the Mustangs went cold Saturday night, making only 17 of 52 from the field, and turned the ball over 22 times.

“Part of that I think was from playing four games in five days,” Mustang Coach Glenn Marx said. “We had some defensive breakdowns and didn’t shoot the ball as well as we’re capable of, but basically the other team just had better personnel tonight.

“I want us to go out and play our next game the way we tried to play it tonight.”

Guards Josh Branca and Shane Willis led Mira Costa with 10 points each and center Frank Zeno had nine, all in the second quarter.

Lakewood 83, Morningside 81--The Monarchs erased a 17-point second-half deficit, but still fell short in the third-place game.